Laser direct structured connection for intravascular device

ABSTRACT

The invention generally relates to intravascular imaging catheters and methods of making catheters for imaging systems. The invention provides a connector for an imaging catheter that includes a unitary body with very thin electrical contacts that are formed on the surface of the body. Due to the scale of the contacts, the connector operates essentially as a single unitary piece of material. Each of the leads may be less than about 100 μm wide and less than about 8 μm thick, and further the leads may be spaced apart by less than about 160 μm

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 14/107,744 filed onDec. 16, 2013 which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/740,568, filed on Dec. 21, 2012,each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to intravascular imaging catheters andmethods of connecting catheters to imaging systems.

BACKGROUND

Over a person's life, plaque builds up in their arteries in a conditionsometimes known as hardened arteries. The accumulation of plaque canpose a serious threat of a stroke or heart attack, even in cases inwhich no symptoms emerge and the person lives unawares of the threat. Tohelp identify people that are at risk of a stroke or heart attack,doctors use imaging systems to look inside of a patient's blood vesselsand study the plaque.

Typical intravascular imaging systems, such as intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) systems, include a long, thin catheter that is connected to acomputer-controlled imaging system. The doctor inserts the catheter intothe patient's blood vessels and the tip of the catheter takes a picturefrom within the blood vessel. The picture can be displayed on a monitorso that the doctor can see and examine any plaque buildup.

It is common for the catheter to be a single-use, disposable part andfor the imaging system to include a control station, computer, monitorand other components. Each imaging operation requires a doctor to scrubin, unwrap a new catheter, connect it to the system, and perform theimaging operation. Since the image is transferred from the catheter intothe computer in the form of electrical signals, each catheter must makea reliable electrical contact with the system. Unfortunately, existingimaging catheters have fragile connection mechanisms.

In the existing catheters, the signal wires are connected to metal ringsthat are spaced apart by a number of plastic slugs and all of the partsare mounted as an assemblage along a central core. Not only are theseconnectors difficult and expensive to make, they can fall apart ifmisassembled or mishandled. Additionally, it has been observed that thestructure of existing catheters is associated with misuse. Sometimesthey, are not inserted properly, and the necessary electrical contactsare not made. Since existing catheters do not always providesatisfactory results, imaging operations can require do-overs—thecatheter is withdrawn and discarded and a new one is used. Thisincreases the cost, complexity, and risk of complications inintravascular imaging procedures. Also, the scale of the components usedin existing catheters places a limit on the image information that canbe electrically transmitted into the computer system. Since only a fewelectrical contacts can be disposed along the mating portion of existingcatheter connectors, it is difficult to incorporate new functionalityinto the imaging transducers, as there is not room at the connectionjacks to add more connection points.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a connector for an imaging device such as animaging catheter or guidewire that includes a unitary body with verythin electrical contacts that are formed on the surface of the body. Dueto the micron-scale thinness of the contacts, the connector operatesessentially as a single unitary piece of material. Since the connectoris not an assemblage of pieces, it cannot be misassembled nor does itfall apart. Additionally, connectors of the invention can bemanufactured with uniformity, providing a product that are usedconsistently and correctly. Due to the uniformity of the connectors,doctors will find it easier to make a good connection for each and everyimaging operation. This will allow imaging operations to proceedsuccessfully using the first catheter that is installed. Moreover, theelectrical contacts, and the leads that conduct electricity to thosecontacts, can be provided at a very fine scale. For example, the widthof ten independent leads running alongside one another can be less thana few millimeters. Due to the scale of the electrical contacts andleads, an intravascular imaging device can carry a greater number ofimaging signals from the patient into the computer system. This allowsnew technologies to be incorporated into existing imaging catheters orguidewires, and provides for multi-function systems that operate via asingle catheter or guidewire to perform diverse imaging functions with asingle insertion procedure. Since devices of the invention are used morereliably to provide intravascular images with fewer failures anddo-overs, intravascular imaging services can reach a greater number ofpatients while also being safer and more affordable. Since new imagingtechnologies can be deployed alongside other imaging technologies,intravascular imaging can provide more information at a finer scaleabout conditions within a patient's arteries. This allows, for example,accumulations of plaque to be detected in more people and at criticalearly stages, giving doctors the information they need to plan for theirpatients' health.

In certain aspects, the invention provides a connector device for amedical imaging device that has an extended body made with athermoplastic doped with an organo-metal complex. The body has aconductive contact disposed on a surface of the proximal end and aconductive lead extending along a length of the body and in electricalcontact with the conductive contact. The conductive contact may be lessthan about 10 μm thick. In some embodiments, the conductive lead is ametal trace on a surface of the body that is less than about 150 μm wideand less than about 10 μm thick. An end of the body may be substantiallycylindrical, with the contacts on the outer surface. For example, eachcontact may define a ring extending around the cylindrical member. For afemale connector, the end substantially defines a cylindrical hollow andthe conductive contact is on an inner surface of the cylindrical hollow,e.g., as a ring extending around an inside surface of the cylindricalhollow. In certain embodiments, the device has a plurality of conductivecontacts disposed on the surface of the proximal end and each inelectrical contact with one of a plurality of conductive leads extendingalong a length of the body. The device may be provided in a male formfactor plug configured so that if inserted into a corresponding jack theplug may be rotated with respect to the jack while maintaining constantelectrical contact from each of the conductive leads to correspondingconductors in the jack. The connector device may be on an intravascularimaging catheter. It may further include a plurality of conductive leadsextending along the length of the body, wherein each of the leads areless than about 150 μm wide and less than about 10 μm thick, and furtherwherein the plurality of leads are spaced apart by less than about 200μm (e.g., each of the leads may be less than about 100 μm wide and lessthan about 8 μm thick, and further the leads may be spaced apart by lessthan about 160 μm). In some embodiments, the conductive contact is lessthan about 5 μm thick and the conductive lead is disposed on a surfaceof the body and is less than about 5 μm thick, or even less than about 3μm thick with the conductive lead being less than about 3 μm thick.

In related aspects, the invention provides a method of making aconnector method for a medical imaging catheter by molding athermoplastic doped with an metal-organic complex into an extended bodyhaving a proximal end and a distal end; irradiating an area of a surfaceof the body with a laser to make a metal from the metal-organic complexavailable at the surface; and depositing a conductor metal on the areato provide a conductive contact at the proximal end. The metal may bedeposited by an electroless process and may provide a layer no greaterthan about 10 μm thick. Methods of the invention include attaching thebody to an ultrasonic imaging device and providing an electricalconnection between the conductive lead and a piezoelectric transducer inthe imaging device. The connector and catheter may include a pluralityof conductive contacts disposed on the surface of the proximal end andeach in electrical contact with one of a plurality of conductive leadsextending to the transducer. In some embodiments, the catheterterminates in a male form factor plug so that if inserted into acorresponding jack the plug may be rotated with respect to the jackwhile maintaining constant electrical contact from each of theconductive leads to corresponding conductors in the jack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an imaging system for catheter-based imaging.

FIG. 2 depicts an interface module of an imaging system.

FIG. 3 shows a catheter of an imaging system.

FIG. 4 gives a detailed view of a proximal end of a catheter.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of a female part of a catheter connection.

FIG. 6 displays a male component for a catheter connection.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a catheter connector and an interfacemodule.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a method for making electricalcontacts.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative method of making electrical contacts.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a method of making a structured catheterconnection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides systems and methods by which an electrolessplating process can be employed to fashion a catheter connectionstructure with a body of thermoplastic having a thin conductive contacton a surface thereof.

FIG. 1 diagrams an imaging system 101 that includes a computer unit 120connected to a control station 110 and including an optionalnavigational device 125, such as a joystick or similar. System 101further may include a patient interface module (PM) 105 operablyconnected to control station 110 or computer unit 120 and an imagingcatheter 112 extends from PIM 105. Imaging catheter 112 my generallyinclude a imaging device 114 at a distal end, to be used for collectingan intravascular image of a patient's tissue, which image can bedisplayed, for example, on monitor 103.

System 101 is operable for use during diagnostic imaging of theperipheral and coronary vasculature of the patient. System 101 can heconfigured to automatically visualize boundary features, performspectral analysis of vascular features, provide qualitative orquantitate blood flow data, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, system 1011 is used for intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) imaging. For IVUS, system 101 employs a sterile, single useintravascular ultrasound imaging catheter 112. Catheter 112 is insertedinto the coronary arteries and vessels of the peripheral vasculatureunder the guidance of angiogrpahic system 107. System 101 may beintegrated into existing and newly installed catheter laboratories(angiography suites.) The system configuration is flexible in order tofit into the existing catheter laboratory work flow and environment. Forexample, the system can include industry standard input/outputinterfaces for hardware such as navigation device 1125, which can be abedside mounted joystick. System 101 can include interfaces for one ormore of an EKG system, exam room monitor, bedside rail mounted monitor,ceiling mounted exam room monitor, and server room computer hardware.System 101 connects to catheter 112 via PIM 105, which may contain atype CF (intended for direct cardiac application) defibrillator proofisolation boundary.

FIG. 2 depicts a PIM 105 according to certain embodiments of theinvention. PIM 105 includes connection port 109, here depicted as havinga male connector 111 disposed therein available for connection tocatheter 112. In an alternative embodiment, discussed below, catheter112 includes male connector 111 and PIM 105 connection port 109 isdimensioned to couple with male connector 1111 on catheter 112. In IVUS,electrical signals are sent from PIM 105 to excite a piezoelectrictransducer at the imaging unit 114 of catheter 112. Those electricalsignals require electrical leads along a length of catheter 112 and acorresponding set of electrical contacts on the connection surfaces ofconnection port 109 and catheter 112. IVUS systems are discussed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,673,015; U.S. Pub. 2012/0265077; and U.S. R640,608 E, whilecatheters are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,846,101; U.S. Pat. No.5,771,895; U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,366; U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,141; U.S. Pub.2012/0271170; U.S. Pub. 2012/0232400; U.S. Pub. 2012/0095340; U.S. Pub.2009/0043191; U.S. Pub. 2004/0015065, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes.

FIG. 3 shows a catheter 112 according to certain embodiments of theinvention. As shown in FIG. 3, catheter 112 includes an extended body135 with a distal portion 131 and a proximal portion 137. Apiezoelectric transducer 145 is disposed at the distal portion 131.Proximal portion 137 terminates at connection member 141. To carry theaforementioned electrical signals, connection member 141 includes one ormore electrical contact points, discussed in greater detail below.

All other input/output interfaces within the patient environment mayutilize both primary and secondary protective earth connections to limitenclosure leakage currents. The primary protective earth connection forcontroller 125 and control station 110 can be provided through thebedside rail mount. A secondary connection may be via a safety groundwire directly to the bedside protective earth system. Monitor 103 and anEKG interface can utilize the existing protective earth connections ofthe monitor and EKG system and a secondary protective earth connectionfrom the bedside protective earth bus to the main chassis potentialequalization post.

Computer device 120 can include a high performance dual Xeon basedsystem using an operating system such as Windows XP professional.Computer device 120 may be configured to perform real time intravascularultrasound imaging while simultaneously running a tissue classificationalgorithm referred to as virtual histology (VH). The applicationsoftware can include a DICOM3 compliant interface, a work list clientinterface, interfaces for connection to angiographic systems, or acombination thereof. Computer device 120 may be located in a separatecontrol room, the exam room, or in an equipment room and may be coupledto one or more of a custom control station, a second control station, ajoystick controller, a PS2 keyboard with touchpad, a mouse, or any othercomputer control device.

Computer device 120 may generally include one or more USB or similarinterfaces for connecting peripheral equipment. Available USB devicesfor connection include the custom control stations, the joystick, and acolor printer. In some embodiments, control system includes one or moreof a USB 2.0 high speed interface, a 50/100/1000 baseT Ethernet networkinterface, AC power input, PS2 jack, Potential Equalization Post, 1 GigEEthernet interface, microphone and line inputs, line output VGA Video,DVI Video interface, PIM interface, ECG interface, other connections, ora combination thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, computer device 120 isgenerally linked to control station 110. Control station 110 may beprovided by any suitable device, such as a computer terminal (e.g., on akiosk). In some embodiments, control system 110 is a purpose builtdevice with a custom form factor.

In certain embodiments, systems and methods of the invention includeprocessing hardware configured to interact with more than one differentthree dimensional imaging system so that the tissue imaging devices andmethods described here in can be alternatively used with OCT, IVUS, orother hardware.

Any target can be imaged by methods and systems of the inventionincluding, for example, bodily tissue. In certain embodiments, systemsand methods of the invention image within a lumen of tissue. Variouslumen of biological structures may be imaged including, but not limitedto, blood vessels, vasculature of the lymphatic and nervous systems,various structures of the gastrointestinal tract including lumen of thesmall intestine, large intestine, stomach, esophagus, colon, pancreaticduct, bile duct, hepatic duct, lumen of the reproductive tract includingthe vas deferens, vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes, structures of theurinary tract including urinary collecting ducts, renal tubules, ureter,and bladder, and structures of the head and neck and pulmonary systemincluding sinuses, parotid, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

In certain embodiments, system 101 is used for optical coherencetomography (OCT) imaging. OCT is used in interventional cardiology, forexample, to help diagnose coronary artery disease. OCT systems andmethods are described in U.S. Pub. 2011/0152771; U.S. Pub. 2010/0220334;U.S. Pub. 2009/0043191; U.S. Pub. 2008/0291463; and U.S. Pub.2008/0180683, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

In OCT, a light source delivers a beam of light to an imaging device toimage target tissue. Within the light source is an optical amplifier anda tunable filter that allows a user to select a wavelength of light tobe amplified. Wavelengths commonly used in medical applications includenear-infrared light, for example between about 800 nm and about 1700 nm.

Generally, there are two types of OCT systems, common beam path systemsand differential beam path systems, that differ from each other basedupon the optical layout of the systems. A common beam path system sendsall produced light through a single optical fiber to generate areference signal and a sample signal whereas a differential beam pathsystem splits the produced light such that a portion of the light isdirected to the sample and the other portion is directed to a referencesurface. Common beam path interferometers are further described forexample in U.S. Pat. No. 7,999,938; U.S. Pat. No. 7,995,210; and U.S.Pat. No. 7,787,127, the contents of each of which are incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

In a differential beam path system, amplified light from a light sourceis input into an interferometer with a portion of light directed to asample and the other portion directed to a reference surface. A distalend of an optical fiber is interfaced with a catheter for interrogationof the target tissue during a catheterization procedure. The reflectedlight from the tissue is recombined with the signal from the referencesurface forming interference fringes (measured by a photovoltaicdetector) allowing precise depth-resolved imaging of the target tissueon a micron scale. Exemplary differential beam path interferometers areMach-Zehnder interferometers and Michelson interferometers. Differentialbeam path interferometers are further described for example in U.S. Pat.No. 7,783,337; U.S. Pat. No. 6,1.34,003; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,164,the contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein inits entirety.

For intravascular imaging by OCT, a light beam is delivered to thevessel lumen via a fiber-optic based imaging catheter 112. The imagingcatheter is connected through hardware to software on a hostworkstation. The hardware includes an imagining engine and PIM 105 thatprovides user controls. Catheter 112 is connected to PIM 105 in asimilar fashion as for IVUS.

Typical intravascular OCT involves introducing the imaging catheter intoa patient's target vessel using standard interventional techniques andtools such as a guide wire, guide catheter, and angiography system.Light for image capture originates within a light source and is splitbetween an OCT interferometer and an auxiliary, or “clock”,interferometer. Light directed to the OCT interferometer is furthersplit by a splitter and recombined by splitter with an asymmetric splitratio, The majority of the light is guided into the sample path and theremainder into a reference path. The sample path includes optical fibersrunning through the PIM 105 and the imaging catheter 112 and terminatingat imaging tip 114.

As for IVUS, OCT requires electrical signals to be communicated across ajunction between catheter 112 and PIM 105. Accordingly, the connectionstructures discussed herein (e.g., as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3) areapplicable in OCT systems. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, PIM 105 provides amale connector 111 and a corresponding female connector is provided byconnection member 141 of proximal end 137 of catheter 112.

FIG. 4 shows connection member 141 more closely, showing a detentmechanism that can be included so that catheter 112 clicks into place inPIM 105 and resists being pulled out. Within connection member 141 is afemale connector recess 115.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view showing female connector recess 115. Recess115 includes generally cylindrical hollow defining an inward-facingsurface. Connection member 141 includes a plurality of conductivecontacts 145 disposed on the surface of recess 115. Each connectionmember is in constant electrical contact with a conductive lead 149extending along a length of catheter body 135. Each of these contactsand leads are preferably less than about 10 μm thick. Additionally,these leads can be provided with widths that are about 100 μm or less.The contacts 145 and leads 149 may also be spaced apart by less thanabout 100 μm.

FIG. 6 displays a male component 111 that can be manufactured accordingto methods described herein. Component 111 has a generally extended bodyof doped thermoplastic and includes contacts 143, each connected to alead 147 to provide for the carrying of electrical signals from animaging catheter 112 to a imaging system computer 120. Due to theimproved quality of the male component 111 provided as shown in FIG. 6,imaging operations such as IVUS operations will proceed with greatersuccess, due to fewer failures of multi-part prior art components.

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment in which male component 111 is on catheter112, and PIM 105 provides a female connection component 115. Thecatheter as depicted in FIG. 7 may actually have the appearances of thecatheter depicted in FIG. 3, with male component 111 shrouded by theoutside housing. However, FIG. 7 does not include the housing in thisdepiction so that the male component 111 may be more easily visualizedand understood. Connector 141 on proximal portion 137 of catheter 112presents male component including thin contacts 143 and thin leads 147as described above. When inserted into female coupling of connection 109of PIM 105, each contact 143 provides a dedicated electrical signalpathway for the system. The corresponding contacts provided within PIM105 can be any suitable mechanism or structure including ring-shapedlaser structured contacts 145 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5). In someembodiments, connector 111 participates in a specialized joint such as arotary joint and a female portion of the connector includes aspecialized contact. Any suitable contact can be used including forexample, slip rings, brushes, pogo pins, or cantilevered contacts.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which female portion 109 includes one ormore pogo pins 145 to provide electrical contacts. A portion of eachpogo pion 145 is coupled to electrical lead 149. Each pogo pin 145includes a spring that biases the tip towards contacts 143 on maleconnector 141.

FIG. 9 illustrates the use of cantilevers 145 as contacts for leads 149on the female side of the joint. Here, each cantilever 145 makeselectrical contact with one contact surface 143 on the male connector.In FIG. 9, elements of catheter 112, such as a portion of body 135 andleads 149 are not depicted. The described components can be provided byany suitable fabrication method known in the art including, for example,contact printing or lithography. In certain embodiments, thisarrangements of contacts and leads is provided by a process thatincludes molding connection member 141 from a thermoplastic materialthat is impregnated with a metal-organic complex. The process is basedon doped thermoplastic materials on which the tracks required for thecircuit layout are activated by means of targeted laser radiation, andthen metallized in a chemical bath.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a method of making a structured catheterconnection. In some embodiments, a laser-directed structuring method isemployed. A suitable thermoplastic is doped 151, preferably with achelate complex of a precious metal such as, for example, palladium orcopper. The laser-directed structuring method can be employed on anythermoplastic material that can be used in a catheter. The plastic ismolded 155 in a one shot molding process.

A laser is used to etch 159 the desired pattern onto the component wherecontacts 145 or leads 149 are desired. The laser-assisted breakdown ofmetal complexes creates nuclei which catalyze metal precipitation in thelaser-activated zones. The laser both breaks the bonds of themetal-organic complex, making the metal available for a subsequentplating process, and also ablates the surface, providing purchase forthe conductive material that will be applied during the plating process.The laser is not only able to selectively and homolytically split themetal complex, the laser beam also ablates the polymer surface. Thisinvolves absorption of the laser energy by the polymer molecules whichbecome excited and vibrate. Ideally, the bonds between the moleculesbreak with the input of a minimum amount of energy. In some embodiments,in addition to pure photochemical ablation, the laser beam causesrelaxation and associated thermal vaporization of the material. Thissublimation process may become predominant particularly when longwavelength laser light is used, e.g., an Nd:YAG laser (λ=1064 μm). Afterthe laser tracing, contacts 145 and leads 149 are then plated on.

In certain embodiments, the plating includes an electroless platingprocess. This process may involve the use of chemical copperelectrolytes to produce copper thicknesses of 5-8 μm. The appropriatesurface finish can then be applied. Metallization is typically carriedout on a rack or using a barrel plating method. The chemical platingprocess is used to plate 163 the component. In some embodiments, thecontacts and leads adhere to the plastic body with a strength between0.6-1.1 N/mm in accordance with DIN IEC 326. The plated component isthen used in fashioning 167 imaging catheter 112, and any necessarypackaging 171 is done.

With the above-described laser-directed structuring process, it ispossible to produce high-resolution circuit layouts on complexthree-dimensional carrier structures, such as connector pieces ofmedical imaging systems. The described process reduces the number ofcomponents and the assembly costs considerably. With the process, it ispossible to create conductive leads 149 (instead of including wires), aswell as ultra-fine circuits in the form of sensor modules or as chiphousings for micro-packaging. The laser structuring simultaneouslycreates the surface structure at the plastic/metal boundary responsiblefor the high degree of adhesion.

In certain embodiments, the lasering makes use of a processing head withthree optical axes. Structures smaller than 100 μm can be produced onthree-dimensional moldings by the control and precision offered. Thefocused beam of a diode-pumped solid-state laser with a wavelength of1064 nm is reflected with virtually no mass inertia by mirrors onto thesurface of the catheter connector. An f-Theta-lens focus the beam ontothe processing level, where a linear translator—a telescope withcontrollable lens—can shift the focal spot in a longitudinal directionby the specific defocusing of the telescope. The synchronous control ofthe telescope and the mirror-deflection unit guides the laser beam alongcomplex three-dimensional surface topographies with high processingspeeds of up to 4000 mm s-1.

Methods of the invention allow for structuring along any surfacetopography accessible by a laser beam, and the surfaces can be reachedin projection. Within only a few seconds, the laser beam structures thecircuit layout directly, e.g., from the computer and onto the surface ofcatheter part. In doing so, the laser carries out two tasks: itactivates the doped LDS plastic in the areas defined by the laser as theconductor layout, and it creates a micro-rough surface which guaranteesadequate adhesion for the tracks. The three-dimensional laserstructuring using the described method involves focusing precisely alongthe surface topography of the component. In some embodiments, the methodcan be used to create ultra-fine structures with a width of up to 150μm. The invention provides methods of making layers :less than about 10μm thick, e.g., between about 5 μm and about 8 μm. Thicker layers can bemade, particularly where electrolytic deposition is employed. The methodand process of laser-directed structuring, sometimes referred to as LPKFlaser direct structuring, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,358,921; U.S.Pat. No. 7,060,421; U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,173; U.S. Pub. 2012/0279764;U.S. Pub. 2012/0276390; U.S. Pub. 2009/0292048; and U.S. Pub.2004/0248439, the contents of which are incorporated by reference intheir entirety for all purposes.

An additional or alternative application of the invention includescreating small-batch prototypes of new catheter connections, allowing anew medical imaging technology to be tested via prototype catheterconnector parts without the costs of full production runs of parts. Aprototype part can be made, for example, using an inexpensiveduroplastic. The duroplastic can be made with a organo-metal substancesdoped in, in addition to a number of high-performance thermoplastics.The duroplasts are used as resin-hardening systems for establishedprototyping methods such as the vacuum casting of polyurethane resins.This allows for the creation of prototypes of catheter connectionswithout having to invest in expensive injection molding tools.

The method can be used to very quickly manufacture electricallyfunctional prototypes on the basis of 3-D CAD volume data. This enablesthe development times to be significantly shortened during the productdevelopment process. In addition, it gives users the ability to makeimportant decisions early on for the further product developmentprocess.

In the past, products with three-dimensional structures have requiredcomplex multi-step molding processes. In the inventive method, componentprototypes may be produced simply and rapidly. The ultra-fine scale ofcontacts 145 and leads 149 gives high degrees of flexibility for theconductor layout because modifications can be easily incorporated bychanging the structuring data. This enables subsequent changes to bemade to the connector design (e.g., add more channel information to WUSor OCT system) without having to modify any tools.

By modifying a polymer in a suitable way with non-ablatable or onlypoorly ablatable fillers (mostly inorganic materials), lasering resultsin microscopically-small cavities and undercuts which in themselvesenable good adhesion between the plastic and the precipitating metallayer without the need for complicated extra treatment. One of the mainadvantages of processing materials with laser light is the feedback-freeimpact on the material combined with high processing speeds. Circuitlayout is controlled by an optical processing head and is notpredetermined by the geometry of a fixed tool (e.g., stamping dyes,2-shot-tools). This gives shorter lead times and high levels offlexibility and economic efficiency. It may be desirable to make a smallbatch (e.g., one or a few) of prototypes by vacuum casting ofpolyurethane resins. This is done on the basis of astereo-lithographically produced original model used to create a siliconmold in which up to 25 polyurethane prototypes can subsequently be madeby vacuum casting. As with full production run materials(thermoplastics), polyurethane is doped with a metal complex. Becausepolyurethane is a duroplastic resin-hardening system, only onecomponent—preferentially the resin—is modified. The resultingvacuum-cast prototypes can then be laser-activated—in precisely the sameway as thermoplastic components during series production—to allowsubsequent selective metal precipitation on the laser-treated areas inthe subsequent metallization process.

As used herein, the word “or” means “and or or”, sometimes seen orreferred to as “and/or”, unless indicated otherwise.

Incorporation by Reference

References and citations to other documents, such as patents, patentapplications, patent publications, journals, books, papers, webcontents, have been made throughout this disclosure. All such documentsare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for allpurposes.

Equivalents

Various modifications of the invention and many further embodimentsthereof, in addition to those shown and described herein, will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the full contents of thisdocument, including references to the scientific and patent literaturecited herein. The subject matter herein contains important information,exemplification and guidance that can be adapted to the practice of thisinvention in its various embodiments and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector for a medical imaging device, theconnector comprising: an extended body having a proximal end and adistal end, wherein the extended body comprises a thermoplastic dopedwith an organo-metal complex; a conductive contact disposed on a surfaceof the proximal end; and a conductive lead extending long a length ofthe body and in electrical contact with the conductive contact.